(Credit: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg) Enescu’s “Œdipe” is a rarely performed work that premiered in 1936 and has since has made limited appearances around the world. It’s a work that depends on the dramatic powers of its lead baritone and one that many consider a challenge. This week, the Salzburg Festival is set to present the opera in a new production with Christopher {…}
This weekend will be dedicated to favorites with some of the biggest singers performing signature roles. Turandot – Teatro Colón, Argentina Maria Guleghina stars in the title role of Puccini’s final work. The soprano appears alongside Verónica Cangemi, Kristian Benedikt, and legendary bass James Morris. Christian Badea conducts. Les Huguenots – Semperoper Dresden, Germany Venera Gimadieva and Jennifer Rowley make their highly anticipated {…}
Oper Frankfurt’s new season is massive. It is loaded up with over a dozen new productions and even more revivals. Premieres Damiano Michieletto directs a new production of Rossini’s “Otello” starring Enea Scala in the title role, Karolina Makuła as Desdemona, Theo Lebow as Iago, and Jack Swanson as Rodrigo. Sesto Quatrini conducts. Performance Dates: Sept. 8-Oct. 20, 2019 Asmik Grigorian sings {…}
The Hamburg State Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring six new productions and a number of revivals. There is also a mix of contemporary repertoire with classic and repertory staples. Here is a look at what to expect. New Productions Elbenita Kajtazi, Renate Spingler, Hellen Kwon, Peter Galliard, Stefan Sevenich, Iwan Iwanowitsch, and Julian Arsenault star in a new production of Shostakovich’s “The {…}
The LA Opera has announced its 2019-20 season featuring six new productions, two company premieres, and one world pmiere. Here is a look at what to expect. Main Stage Barrie Kosky directs the first production of Puccini’s “La Bohème” in 25 years. Marina Costa-Jackson makes her LA Opera debut in the title role with Saimir Pirgu as Rodolfo. Erica Petroelli, {…}
The Salzburg Festival has announced it 2019 season with five new productions, two revivals, and two concert operas. Here is a look at what audiences can expect this season. Productions The 2019 Salzburg Festival opens with Mozart’s “Idomeneo.” Teodor Currentzis and Peter Sellars team up again after “La Clemenza di Tito” with a cast that includes Russell Thomas (Idomeneo), Paula Murrihy {…}
Three exciting releases are set for this week. The first comes from one of the most exciting divas performing today while the other two come from recent acclaimed performances. One includes the final installment of the Ring Cycle. Here is what we recommend this weekend! Spirito Marina Rebeka releases her third solo album for the newly created label Prima Classic. The {…}
The Met Opera will kick off its Live in HD series this Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, with a performance of Nico Muhly and Nichola Wright “Marnie.” The broadcast, which kicks off 12:55 p.m. Eastern time, is set to star Isabel Leonard in the title role, in what will be her sixth appearance as part of the Met’s Live in HD {…}
Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 was a big night for the Metropolitan Opera. A few years back, the company commissioned an opera by Nico Muhly with a libretto by Nicholas Wright based on Winston Graham’s “Marnie.” The work premiered in 2017 in London and has now finally made its way to the Metropolitan Opera. The Met was packed in anticipation of {…}
PBS will showcase “Così Fan Tutte” from the Metropolitan Opera as part of its Great Performances Series on Sunday, July 29, 2018. The broadcast will kick off at 12 p.m. EDT and will star Kelli O’Hara, Amanda Majeski, Adam Plachetka, Ben Bliss, Christopher Maltman, and Serena Malfi under the musical direction of David Robertson. The production, set on Coney Island {…}
It was intermission at the premiere of Phelim McDermott’s new Metropolitan Opera production of Mozart and Da Ponte’s “Così Fan Tutte” and someone made this statement to me. “It’s fun and everything, but why set it on Coney Island?” It’s a great point, but one could extrapolate that entire statement to the opera itself – “It’s got great music and {…}